Mrs. Robinett Loves Teaching and Lanai Life

Life on Lanai reminds kindergarten teacher Valerie Robinett of her hometown in Washington. The hunting, close-knit community and focus on honoring the land are reminiscent of the small town she grew up in.

Mrs. Robinett comes from a family of hunting enthusiasts — her husband and four sons love to hunt, too. “We like being able to teach our kids the importance of respecting and honoring the land and animals that provide for us.”

The Robinetts moved to Lanai from the Big Island, where she taught at Kealakehe Elementary School for the past three years. Before that, she taught various grade levels at her tribal reservation in Washington.

In her first year at LHES, Mrs. Robinett looks forward to helping her kindergarten students develop a love for learning and a mindset that they can achieve anything they set their mind to.

“I want to create lifelong learners that have confidence, positive social skills, strong work ethic and critical thinking, that are prepared to do their best,” she said.

Mrs. Robinett is a lifelong learner herself, with a bachelor’s degree in education from Central Washington University, a master’s degree in educational technology from City University, and ongoing education related to safety in schools and school leadership. She’s excited to collaborate with others to make LHES the best it can be for Lanai’s keiki.

“The keiki are our future and it’s our responsibility to give them everything they need to be successful and caring individuals.”